Strengthening device for shoes



July 24, 1928.

' 1,678,274 K. SCHUTZ swnsucmsume navxcn FOR saoss Filed Oct. 18, 1927anwntpz iii/Irma Jr/adz Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES KONRAD SCHUTZ, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STRENGTHENING DEVICE FOR SHOES.

Application filed October 18, 1927. Serial No. 226,864.

This invention relates to strengthening devices for shoes and moreparticularly to such devices as are used to prevent the crumpling andwrinkling of the counter portion of the shoe.

It has been found that'the upper part of the heel portion of a shoe,especially shoes of the Oxford type, are wrinkled and crumpled by theconstant taking off and putting on of the same, by the wearer.

The object of this invention is to provide a stiffening meansforstrengthening the up per part of the heel portion of the shoe, so thatthe wearer may put on the shoe or take it off without breaking down theback partof the shoe. This means also prevents theshoe "from slippingoff the wearers foot.

This and other like objects are accomplished by the novel constructionand combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described andshown in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this disclosure, andin which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe showing my device asapplied thereto.

Figure 2 1s a cross sectional view show.-

ing my device as applied to a shoe.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional elevational view. I

Figure 5 is a front view.

Figure 6 is an elevational View.

Referring to the drawings, a shoe 7 is shown with an upper heel portion.8, having the device applied thereto, The heel strengthening device iscomposed oi two sections, 9 and 10 respectively, as shown in Figure 6,these sections being pivoted to each other at 11.

The section 10 is provided with a plurality of hooks 12, which areadapted to engage the portion 9 so that the structure will act as onepiece.

The hooks 12 are provided with means for frictionally engaging the part9, and also the part 10 is proyided with means for limiting the downwardmovement of the part 9.

The part 10 has fixed to its inner side a pad 13 which may be made ofrubber or a fibrous substance. In operation, the part 9 1s placed on theoutside of the shoe, as shown in Figure 2 and then the part 10 rotateddownwardly on the pivot 11, so that the hooks 12 engage the leather ofthe heel part of the shoe and the part .9.

It will be seen that this operation securely and firmly holds thestrengthening device on the shoe.

It is obvious, from the description set forth, that the invention hereinpresented provides a convenient and desirable means for strengtheningand keeping in good appearance the heel portion of Oxford shoes.

From the device herein described, the wearer is assured that the heelportion of his shoe will be rigid and unwrinkled, while he is taking theshoe oii and while putting it on.

Having thus described my invention, whatclaim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A strengthening device for the heel portions of shoes, comprising twoarcuate metal strips hinged to each other, one of said strips beingadapted to embrace the outside of the shoe, and the other strip having apad fixed to its inner side, and hooks to engage the leather of saidshoe and the first men tioned strip.

2. A device for strengthening the heel portions of Oxford shoes,comprising two metal strips hinged to each other. one of said stripsbeing adapted to engage the outer portion of the shoe and the otherstrip being adapted to engage the inner portion of the shoe, the lastnamed strip having a pad mounted on its innersurface and provided withhooks to engage the leather of a shoe and the first mentioned strip.

3. A device for strengthening the heel portion of shoes, comprising apair of arcnate metallic strips hinged together, one of said stripslying on one side oi the leather of a shoe andthe other strip lying uponthe other side, the second mentioned strip being provided with a cushionto engage the wearers foot and also having a series of hooks to passover the edge of the heel portion of the shoe and engage the firstmentioned arouate strip.

In witness whereof I have afiixed my signature.

KONRAD SCHUTZ.

